Most Popular Books by Ellen Flanagan Burns

Jill walked over and stood next to Sally. She played right before Sally in the recital. "I liked your pieces," Jill said. Sally said, "But I messed up on the second one. It sounded really bad." "Oh, I didn''t notice," Jill said. She shrugged, "I made a couple of mistakes too. It''s no big deal" Sally thought Jill was just trying to be nice. She couldn''t remember Jill every making a mistake when she played. In fact, she made it look so easy all the time. After another sip of punch and a chocolate chip cookie, Sally was ready to leave. She wasn''t in a very good mood and most of all she didn''t want to face Mrs. Pratt. Sally felt like she had let her down. Sally Sanders is a perfectionist—if can’t she be the best, she feels like a failure. Sally procrastinates, shies away from new things, and constantly compares herself to others, convinced she’s not good enough. With the help of her teachers and mother, Sally learns how to relax and try new things without worrying so much about being the best. She can just be herself, and that is all she needs.

This is a hopeful, helpful story for kids who need reassurance that they can be nice to others and be true to themselves. Ellie feels like she is disappointing people if she says “no.” One way or another, she thinks she is hurting someone’s feelings. Or she puts other people’s wants or needs in front of her own. With help from her parents and her teacher, Ellie finds the strength to be honest with people and do the right thing for herself by learning how to say “no.” Dear Reader Chapter One: Put on the Spot Chapter Two: Heavy Feelings Chapter Three: Jenna the Jacket Chapter Four: Empty Cup Chapter Five: It’s Not My Job to Pick Your Ice Cream Chapter Six: It’s Okay to Say No Chapter Seven: Not Guilty Chapter Eight: Doing the Right Thing, Not the Pleasing Thing Chapter Nine: Friends for Life

Thomas has always been a bit shy, but recently his nervousness has been getting in the way of the things he would like to do.

Eleven-year-old Sarah is confused, embarrassed, and frustrated by her need to count things but finally talks with her mother and a therapist, who diagnoses Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and gives Sarah techniques for coping with her symptoms. Includes note to readers.

Ana é perfeccionista: quando não pode ser a melhor, sente-se uma fracassada, adia compromissos, evita fazer coisas novas e, constantemente, se compara aos outros, convencida de que não é boa o suficiente naquilo que faz. Com a ajuda de seus professores e de sua mãe, Ana descobre como relaxar e tentar aprender novas coisas sem se preocupar tanto em ser a melhor. Com isso, consegue, então, ser apenas ela mesma ? e isso é suficiente.